Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryAugust 3, 2016

Ever since Augie Ribeiro entered the state Senate District 19 race in late June, Ed Narain has seemed to be personally offended by his campaign theme that he’s a Democrat “for all of us.” “Is he implying that the people that have held the seat before didn’t represent everybody in the district?” Narain asked on Monday night while attending the Greater […]

Peter SchorschJune 29, 2016

Pat Neal, a Manatee County developer and former Florida state senator, will not run for Chief Financial Officer in 2018. Facing a self-imposed deadline of July 1 to make a decision about a run, Neal told FloridaPolitics.com in an exclusive interview Wednesday he will not be on the ballot in two years. “I have a […]

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterJune 24, 2016

You might want to call them instant winners. As of 5 p.m. Friday, a dozen Florida Senate candidates appeared to win their elections when the qualifying period ended without them drawing opposition. Newcomers Lauren Book and George Gainer were among those candidates who did not draw an opponent. Gainer, a Bay County Republican, ran unopposed […]

Joe HendersonJune 24, 2016

Two key Republicans will be returning to the Florida Senate in new districts and without opposition. Bill Galvano of Bradenton and Tom Lee of Brandon were the only candidates to meet Friday’s noon filing deadline and thus have been assured of returning to Tallahassee. Lee’s political future had seemed uncertain after court-ordered redistricting could have […]

Peter SchorschJune 16, 2016

Five months from Election Day, Republican Sens. Jeff Brandes, Jack Latvala, Tom Lee and Bill Galvano are still running unopposed. The only two bay area Senate seats in contention so far are the Senate District 18 contest between Tampa Republican Rep. Dana Young and Democrat Bob Buesing and the three-way Democratic primary going down in SD 19. Young had built up quite the lead in her jump to the […]

Joe HendersonJune 15, 2016

I’m a little surprised by Tom Lee’s decision to run for re-election to the state Senate. Along with just about everyone else in the media and Florida politics, I’ve had lengthy chats with Lee about his future since a judge drew new district lines that essentially forced him to make a tough decision. Because his […]

Mitch PerryJune 15, 2016

Is Marco Rubio ready to do the (almost) unthinkable, and announce he will be running again for the U.S. Senate seat he renounced a year ago? We’ll find out soon enough — the deadline to make such a decision is just nine days away. The man who runs this website, Peter Schorsch, wrote last night a deal is […]

Mitch PerryJune 14, 2016

After months of deliberation, Hillsborough County Republican Tom Lee has apparently decided to run for re-election to the newly created Senate District 20 seat later this fall. The Tampa Bay Times first reported the news. Lee is currently serving in Senate District 24, a seat he won back in 2012. It was a return to […]

Drew WilsonMay 12, 2016

A Polk County Democrat announced this week that she will run against Lakeland Republican Sen. Kelli Stargel in the newly redrawn Senate District 22. Former Polk County School Board member Debra Wright made the announcement Monday during the Open House at the Democratic Headquarters in Haines City, During the same meeting she earned the support […]

Mitch PerryMay 6, 2016

Tampa City Councilwoman Lisa Montelione is the first of three major candidates vying for the House District 63 seat to report fundraising totals from April, bringing in $19,490, her highest fundraising month to date. Among those contributing $1,000 to her campaign last month was Cigar City Brewing founder Joey Redner, as well as his wife Jennifer. And […]

Tag: Tom Lee
Image via AP.

War of words heats up between Ed Narain and Augie Ribeiro in SD 19 race

Pat Neal will not be a candidate for Chief Financial Officer in 2018

Instant winners aplenty in Florida Senate races

Tom Lee, Bill Galvano to remain powerful GOP voices in Senate

Where sh*t stands in Tampa Bay legislative races

Joe Henderson: Tom Lee’s tough, surprising choice

Mitch Perry Report for 6.15.16 — What will Marco do?

Tom Lee to run for SD 20 seat

Kelli Stargel draws Polk County Democrat challenger in SD 22 race

Gwen Graham contributes $1,000 to Lisa Montelione in her bid for HD 63